Chapter 853: White Lotus Sect

"What about the White Lotus Society?" Spring Xiaoman looked perplexed; wasn't everything going well?

Gao Zhijian glanced at her but hadn't spoken yet when the Qingqiu Khan beside him directly interjected. "Stop stalling, let's be direct, Saintess of the White Lotus. When we fought against the Dharma Sect, your followers certainly contributed a lot to securing their territory."

"We, the imperial families, are naturally very grateful. However, putting that aside, Saintess, don't you think the number of White Lotus followers has become a bit excessive?"

A low voice came over. "It's not just Qingqiu! Siqi, Hou Shu, Nanping, Daliang, and even Anxi to the east all have White Lotus followers, and their numbers are quite considerable! If this continues, will this land and its people belong to us, or to you?"

Hearing this, Bai Lingmiao seemed to understand why they had summoned her. As she gently squeezed the back of her hand, and with a slight stir in her mind, another upper body, wearing a red veil, emerged from behind her.

"Hehehe," Ershen chuckled, covering her mouth. "Now you complain about too many White Lotus followers? Before, you said the more, the better. What's this? Are you trying to 'kill the donkey after it grinds the mill'? Have you considered the cost before you act?"

"Don't push too hard. If the Dharma Sect could rebel, then the White Lotus Society naturally can too. To be honest, we White Lotus are more skilled in that regard."

"Impudence!"

Seeing the tense atmosphere in the hall, Bai Lingmiao quickly intervened, playing the peacemaker to dissuade Ershen. "Don't say that. Since they invited us here, they surely want to talk things over properly. We are all on the same side, there's no need to make things so rigid. Everyone worked together against the Dharma Sect before."

Hearing Bai Lingmiao's words, the expressions on the faces of the five Dragon Vein Emperors softened slightly.

Seeing the atmosphere ease, Gao Zhijian quickly spoke, offering a way out. "Junior Sister Bai, in fact, the reason we invited you today is to discuss how to solve this problem. It's not just the current large number of White Lotus followers; more importantly, they are still proselytizing to others around them. We can't delay any longer. If we keep delaying, it won't be long before the whole world becomes the White Lotus Society's domain."

"There's nothing wrong with that," Xiaoman interjected. "If everyone in the world became brothers and sisters, there would be no more wars, and the world would achieve great harmony."

When the other emperors' faces began to show anger, Gao Zhijian frowned. "I invited the White Lotus Saintess. Why is this Black-Furred Fiend here? Guards, escort her out!"

Spring Xiaoman looked at Gao Zhijian, utterly shocked, as if seeing him for the first time.

After Spring Xiaoman was escorted out by the eunuchs, Ershen addressed the five individuals before her. "Alright, I know what this is about. So, what do you propose?"

Gao Zhijian sighed softly. "Currently, all regions are in ruins and awaiting reconstruction. The common people can't endure any more turmoil. Junior Sister Bai, you must understand our difficulties."

"My proposal is for the imperial court to issue religious certificates, just like for monks and Taoists. Only those with such certificates would be permitted to join the White Lotus Society. This way, it's a win-win: White Lotus followers gain legitimate status, and their expansion won't be too rapid."

"A win-win? I doubt it. If that's the case, the court would decide who is a White Lotus follower. Then who exactly is the White Lotus Saintess, you or me?"

"There's no room for discussion on this matter!" the Siqi Emperor declared in a decisive tone. "If this doesn't work, then we will have no choice but to resort to the old methods."

At his words, everyone's expressions turned cold. Everyone knew what "the old methods" referred to.

"Threatening me? Hehehe, go ahead and try! Right now, even with all their land and people combined, the Siqi don't have as many followers as the White Lotus. Do you think I'm afraid of you?"

"You're so arrogant now? Why weren't you so arrogant when you were tied up in a mud pit?"

The Siqi Emperor stood up abruptly, flinging his long sleeve. "Hmph! An Emperor is the master of all living beings, the source of prosperity! I am the True Dragon Son of Heaven! I bear great karmic responsibility for heaven and earth!"

"Did I beg you to save me back then? If you were so capable, you shouldn't have saved me! Let the world lose another hour!"

Gao Zhijian looked at him displeased. "Is this how the Emperor of Siqi conducts himself? Such a display of anger? Bickering with a young woman?"

"Oh, please, stop arguing, stop arguing. Let's talk this over calmly." Gao Zhijian and Bai Lingmiao both spoke, easing the tension slightly.

After some tentative discussion with Gao Zhijian regarding the issue, Bai Lingmiao stated, "This matter is significant. I will return and consult with the elders of our society. I'll give you a reply later." Having experienced both firm and conciliatory approaches, Bai Lingmiao now understood their bottom lines. The next step was to consider how to proceed.

"Very well, then we shall trouble Junior Sister Bai."

As Bai Lingmiao's figure receded, Gao Zhijian picked up a wine goblet and drank it down.

"Emperor of Daliang, do you think she'll agree?" the Qingqiu Khan asked.

"Whether she agrees or not doesn't matter. What's important is that the Unborn Mother will not agree," Gao Zhijian's fists gradually clenched. He didn't want to just get rid of one Dharma Sect only to have another White Lotus Society appear. The more critical the situation, the faster such cults expanded.

"The White Lotus Society's influence has expanded too much and too quickly without us realizing it. We must take action. Even the lamas from the Zhongyin Temple have made contact with them."

Gao Zhijian frowned, thinking for a moment, then slowly uttered a word: "Sow discord. The White Lotus Society is a behemoth, but if it were to be fragmented into a dozen smaller cults, it would be insignificant."

"Do you have a way? This is not something an ordinary person can accomplish."

The other four emperors followed Gao Zhijian's gaze to the National Preceptor who emerged from the darkness. "Yes, the Forgetfulness Path."

Gao Zhijian always remembered the principles of imperial statecraft: everything has both good and bad aspects, and whether it's good or bad depends on whether it can be used for one's own purposes.

"Alright, that's enough for today. You may all disperse." As Gao Zhijian's voice faded, the bodies of the other four emperors instantly disintegrated. It turned out they had never actually come to Daliang; it had been an illusion from beginning to end.

Gao Zhijian scrutinized Xuanpin, who floated up from underground. "I truly wonder how much of you is Li Sui now, and how much is Si Tianjian? To be honest, since it involves old acquaintances, I'm a bit hesitant to use you."

Xuanpin shook her head. "Your Majesty need not worry. I believe you handled this well, and I certainly won't stop you. Besides, this is good for my mother. This was never her responsibility, and it shouldn't be hers to bear. It's good that someone can take her place."

"Really? You think your mother won't resent being removed from the position of White Lotus Saintess?"

"You're the one who did this. Any resentment will be directed at you, not me."

Gao Zhijian looked at her calmly. "You can't always remain uninvolved. Since you are Si Tianjian, there will eventually come a day when you conflict with your parents."

"We'll address that when it happens. Before then, I will try my best to avoid that day."